Blockade: Weird Thing????

[Jeff V]

reverse

[Jeff V]

mm

[Jeff V]

catch

[Jeff V]

hinge

[SwordFish]

John-
7 portholes, 2nd row. I compared this one closely prior to buying it with various zinc Schwerin examples. It's on the money. It has every attribute i'd expect to see on a Schwerin zincer. That piece that was stuck between the wing and deck was a catch that had broken off another badge and become lodged in the gap. So i've got a spare catch if someone wants it. Again, just from comparing the various examples I have on file, this one really doesn't vary from what I can see. Being as objective as I can, and based off the comparisons with a number of other examples, I totally believe this one is 100% good.

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

There are no problems with the badge in question. The fact that the catch could be easily removed does lead me to believe it is not some sort of deliberate attachment alteration method used by a sailor. So the poor storage option works for me.

Re the maker marks here - you are not comparing apples to apples. To clarify, FLAT-backed Schwerin Blockade Breaker Badges have larger separation between the lines of the maker mark compared to the DISH-Backed examples, which have the maker mark lines closer together. Different reverse dies, pure and simple.

Regards
Mike

[SwordFish]

Mike,
Thank you for the info. I knew this badge was unquestionably a good piece. I spent a long time comparing my image library and forums serches of Schwerin Blockade zincers with this badge prior to it's purchase. With the fakes floating around, Im being certain now that everything I add is legitimate. I'm finding simply the best way to ascertain the legitimacy of a piece is compare as many good and bad examples as possible.

Mike, thank you again. I knew it was a good one but still feel vindicated when I receive confirmation. I still wouldn't refer to myself as a badge collector hence the whole badge field is a grey spot for me. I couldn't figure out where any differences in the badge people were referring to, other than some of the misspaced characters in the MM.

Good collecting friends. I only need an E Boat.

tom

[John R.]

Actually, a good thread to point out the differences in the versions Schwerin made in this badge. As Jeff points out often, you can tell very quickly if a badge is good or not by the striations on the pin itself, evident in #5. If they are there, it is good.

We have so many new member here, sometimes we take it for granted that they know these differences.

I am not sure very many know what Mike pointed out for example.

To clarify, I have no doubt that it is a period badge, I just want to make sure that somebody looking at the first two images might only see the 6 portholes in your example (althought the 7th is there if you magnify the image) and to understand the spacing issue between dished and flat backed badges.

That happened. I would like to see more critical examination of badges posted than the mere "great badge" post. I think you know more about this version than you did when you posted it--and I am glad you did post it, that is what this forum is all about.

Some of the best fakes are with this badge and have been around a long long time.

Nice addition to your collection.

I will add this thread to my pinned thread at the top listing manufacturers since the zinc versions and their differences were not provided when I asked for them at the time of its compilation. I think this thread tied it up pretty well.

Type in zinc Schwerin blockade breaker and see how many threads there are--not many. I found three dedicated threads, including this one, since 2003 thanks to deleted threads and posts that used to be there.

John

[SwordFish]

Thanks John. Cleary my knowledge base has been expanded since the original post. Certainly that is the point of the forums. Since buying a questionable destroyer some 8 months ago, i've spent mega time and used maega hard disc saving various images of good examples, repros, questionable piece, and on and on of KM badges. This reference library I put together has clearly helped me. Like I had said, I spent quite a long time comapring and contrasting this particular badge to both the good Schwerin examples and the bad Schwerin examples. Based on the totality of the badge, I came to the conlusion she was good....that being said, I had sought the advice of a fellow collector for his view on the badge and he also green lighted it.

Buying anything soley on photos carries a risk. It's a matter of mitigating that risk with research prior to completing the transaction.

This has been a great thread and undoubtedly a learning experience. I'm looking forward to the day when I can say my KM badge collection is complete. Even then, the learning won't stop. It's a challenge always. I'm comfortable with edged weapons....don't know if i'll ever reach a level of comfort similiar to that with badges.

Thanks again fellas for the input, insight and opinions.

Tom